One can only hope that today’s release of the Surgeon General’s Report (SGR) on e-cigarette use among youth and young adults is the first in a series of reports addressing e-cigarettes, and that it increases rather than quells interest in exploring the potential benefits of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool for the 37 million Americans who smoke. As you know, the great majority of smokers – over 70% -- want to quit smoking and each year over 50% of them attempt to quit. As you also know, quitlines report that there is a great interest among smokers in using e-cigarettes as part of their quit attempts. As health professionals, our mission is to make effective treatments accessible to this population. I would suggest, that as professionals we have the added responsibility of advocating for the development of effective new cessation tools that are attractive to smokers.

What does the new SGR do?

The new SGR clearly states that youth should not be exposed to nicotine, an indisputable conclusion that no organization has questioned.

The new SGR synthesizes and draws conclusions from the nascent research literature on potential harms of the “non-nicotine” contents of e-cigarettes. Some of these conclusions remain controversial within the research community (see attached materials).

Perhaps most relevant to cessation, the new SGR omits any meaningful discussion on potential benefits, stating that although e-cigarettes are less harmful than combustible cigarettes, research has not shown that e-cigarettes are an effective cessation tool.

Let’s explore this last point a bit…One question you may ask is “Why hasn’t research clearly shown whether e-cigarettes are an effective or ineffective tool for cessation?” Well, a big part of the problem is that FDA has failed to move forward with regulating the product. If the contents of e-cigarettes, especially the amount of nicotine, are not known and are not reliably stated on the label, we cannot effectively use them as a cessation tool. To use e-cigarettes as part of a quit attempt, we need to know the level of nicotine in these products. We also need to know the other contents and to understand the biological impact and risk of the contents. A second question you may ask is “What has been done to encourage and support research on e-cigarettes as a potential cessation tool?” Unfortunately, the answer is “not enough.”

So, in this holiday season, the Surgeon General has published a report that helps protect youth. This is an important action; we should all do whatever we can to protect youth and to encourage their development of positive health behaviors and other life skills. Similarly, we should also do whatever we can to protect smokers and to encourage their development of positive health behaviors. We call on the Surgeon General, HHS, and our colleagues at CDC, NIH and especially FDA to get even more engaged and serious on the topic of e-cigarettes. We need regulation and we need an intensive research effort to explore and translate the potential benefits and harms of these emerging new products. There are 37 million smokers and a community of cessation professionals who need you to take action and who will support you in moving forward on this agenda.

Today, CDC.gov is featuring an article that highlights The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout that takes place on November 17 of this year. In addition to urging smokers to quit for one day and to set a date to quit for good, this article also includes a specific focus on smokers with mental health conditions. The story from Tips™ participant, Rebecca, a smoker who also suffered with depression, will appear in the article.

We are relying on you to help us reach smokers to get them engaged by quitting smoking for one day on November 17 and by creating a quit plan.

Below is a list of resources we hope you will use to plan your own communication activities and also share with your tobacco-control partners.

A video featuring a participant from CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers campaign.

A link to the CDC Vital Signs publication on adult smokers with mental illness.

5 recommendations on preparing to quit smoking.

A positive “you can quit” message, along with quitting resources.

Social Media

OSH social media platforms will support the release of the CDC feature article by including information about the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout and encouraging smokers to quit or make plans to quit on November 17. Follow @CDCTobaccoFree on Facebook and Twitter for timely sharing of this content with your own fans and followers.

Thank you,

Source: CDC/Office on Smoking and Health

]]>Thu, 17 Nov 2016 08:34:27 GMTReports on Retail Environment!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317539
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317539CounterTobacco.org offers evidence summaries on tobacco control and prevention topics related to the retail environment. The recently published Flavored Tobacco Products evidence summary overviews the products, how they are marketed, and association with youth initiation. It also includes information on related local, state, and federal policy. The recently updated E-Cigarettes at the Point of Sale evidence summary highlights state and local restrictions on these products and e-cigarette industry marketing tactics.
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:18:15 GMTNew Online Support Community for Quitting Smoking!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317538
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317538In partnership with Inspire, American Lung Association launched several lung health online support communities, including one to help people quit smoking. Quit Now: Freedom From Smoking online support community provides active peer-to-peer support of its members through the process of quitting smoking. Members of the community, including former smokers, can provide a helpful resources, information and experiences to help people quit smoking for good. The community is free to join.
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:17:38 GMTGreat American Smokeout Campaign!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317537
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317537GASO takes place on Thursday, November 17th! NAQC joins ACS in encouraging you to leverage this event to promote calling quitlines and becoming smokefree. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk. Find resources and materials at the URL below.
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:17:10 GMTNAQC Conference 2017: Registration Due Date!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317536
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317536Hilton Austin located at 500 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Reservation details are below.

Registration is open and allows you to attend all workshops and sessions at the conference and includes refreshments and lunches on both days as well as a ticket to the reception on Monday evening, March 20. The registration fee for NAQC members will be $365 (non-members, $525).
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:16:38 GMTDeadline of December 1: Apply for The Commonwealth Fund Mongan Fellowship in Minority Health Policy!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317535
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317535The application deadline for the 2017–2018 fellowship is December 1, 2016.
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:16:10 GMTDeadline of November 28: Calling Health Professionals Treating Pregnant Smokers! http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317534
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=317534December 5, 2016, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE, 9th Floor Conference Room Washington, DCRegistration $395

This one-day workshop is designed to train health professionals to promote, implement and evaluate SCRIPT as part of routine prenatal care. Patient guides, DVDs and comprehensive training materials are provided.
» learn more

This half-day workshop is designed to train clinicians and other prenatal care providers to counsel their pregnant patients on effective smoking cessation methods for pregnant women. This evidence-based training focuses on implementation procedures and intervention components.
» learn more]]>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 01:15:37 GMTSOPHE Commit to Quit During and After Pregnancy DVD in Spanish!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313681
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313681SOPHE is increasing access to resources that promote Hispanic health. The Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment Program is pleased to release the Commit to Quit Smoking During and After Pregnancy DVD in Spanish. A major component of the SCRIPT program, this DVD is designed to educate pregnant women about the importance of quitting smoking. The video significantly reduces counseling time and provides best practice tools and skills to help pregnant smokers quit.
» learn more]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:44:23 GMTTruth Initiative - Factsheet on Smokeless Tobacco Use!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313680
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313680The factsheets overview the prevalence among adolescents and adults, marketing expenditures, health risks, and existing policies. National Youth Tobacco Survey data shows that the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among adolescents and adults has been stable since 2002. Truth Initiative emphasized the need for additional support implementing policies surrounding flavored tobacco, marketing approaches, minimum age of purchase, and prohibiting internet sales.
» learn more

]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:43:53 GMTFDA Issued Warning Letters to Tobacco Retailers Illegally Selling to Minors!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313679
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313679One month after its deeming rule took effect, FDA has issued its first warning letters to 55 retailers for selling tobacco products to minors. During the compliance checks on retail chains, tobacco specialty stores, and online retailers, minors were able to purchase regulated tobacco products, most notably those in a variety of youth-appealing flavors such as bubble gum, cotton candy, and gummy bear. FDA hopes to continue to assure public safety through the use of self-reporting violations by using FDA’s Potential Tobacco Product Violation Reporting Form.

]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:43:24 GMTThe National Multiple Schlerosis Society and Smoking Cessation!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313677
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313677The National Multiple Schlerosis (MS) Society is interested in partnering with quitlines to provide cessation treatment to their patients who smoke and to educate quitlines and their callers about MS. The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. The Society helps each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50-state network of chapters. The Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

Research has shown that smoking can result in shortness of breath, susceptibility to lung infections, and heartbeat irregularities for MS patients, transforming a mild or moderate neurological limitation in a person with MS into a severe disability. Here are some research abstracts about smoking and MS:

]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:42:34 GMTDeadline of December 1: Apply for The Commonwealth Fund Mongan Fellowship in Minority Health Policy!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313675
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313675The Commonwealth Fund Mongan Fellowship in Minority Health Policy (formerly The Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy, est. 1996) is now accepting applications for the 2017–18 class. This unique fellowship prepares physicians for leadership roles in transforming health care delivery systems and promoting policies and practices that improve access to high-performance health care for vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged groups. The application deadline for the 2017–2018 fellowship is December 1, 2016.
» learn more]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:42:06 GMTWebinar on October 26-Truth Initiative’s College Programs: Helping Colleges Across the Country http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313674
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313674The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) and the Truth Initiative are pleased to invite
you to its next free webinar: “Truth Initiative’s College Programs: Helping colleges across the country #FinishIT, one campus at a time” on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at 1:00 pm EDT (90 minutes).Webinar Objectives:
· Describe the disproportionate impact of tobacco use on the college population.
· Describe strategies used to address tobacco as a social justice issue on a college campus.
· Identify strategies to mobilize support from students, faculty and staff for a tobacco-free
campus policy.
» learn more]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 19:07:35 GMTWebinar on October 18 at 1 pm CT: U.S. v. Philip Morris: The Big Win Against Big Tobacco!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313651
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=313651Ten years ago, on August 17, 2006, Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that ten tobacco industry defendants had violated civil racketeering laws as a result of a decades-long, industry-wide conspiracy to deceive the American public about the harmful effects of tobacco use and the industry’s knowledge of those dangers. In the intervening decade, the remedies imposed by the court continue to be litigated and appealed by an industry desperate to avoid responsibility for its actions. This webinar will discuss the case, and the role of public health groups who intervened and became parties to the litigation, the case’s impact on tobacco control advocacy and individual lawsuits against the tobacco industry, and the case’s broader impact on public health.
» learn more

]]>Tue, 18 Oct 2016 19:05:29 GMTSmokeless Tobacco May Contain Potentially Harmful Bacteria!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307002
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307002There's a new concern about smokeless tobacco – those products can harbor several species of potentially harmful bacteria. Two types in particular – Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus – can cause inflammation of the lungs and opportunistic infections, the study authors said. Opportunistic infections are those that occur more frequently and are more severe in people with weakened immune systems.
» learn more]]>Fri, 9 Sep 2016 00:37:19 GMTTwo New Factsheets on Tobacco Industry Practices in Retail Environment! http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307001
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307001Two new Public Health and Tobacco Policy Center factsheets outline tobacco industry practices in the retail environment. Specifically, they focus on how environmental and social factors, as tobacco is marketed heavily in lower socioeconomic communities. The factsheets highlight the influence of retail environment and retailer density on tobacco initiation, marketing of tobacco products, price promotion, tobacco use, burden of disease, and smoke-free rules.
» learn more

]]>Fri, 9 Sep 2016 00:36:46 GMTNY Times Article: Tobacco Industry Works to Block Rules on E-Cigarettes!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307000
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=307000It was recently reported that, the e-cigarette and cigar industries have enlisted high-profile lobbyists and influential congressional allies in an attempt to stop the Food and Drug Administration from retroactively examining their products for public health risks or banning them from the market. New rule extends F.D.A. jurisdiction to include cigars, e-cigarettes and pipe and hookah tobacco.
»learn more

Tobacco Control Legal Consortium also updated an overview of the lawsuits challenging the FDA, summarizing each plaintiff’s arguments and providing a timeline for FDA’s response to each case. You can review it here.

Smokeless tobacco use is not safe and can lead to nicotine addiction; oral, pancreatic, and esophageal cancer; and other oral conditions, including periodontal disease. High prevalence of smokeless tobacco use has been reported among athletes at different levels, including among minor and major league baseball players, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I male baseball players, and among male high school athletes. In March 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibited tobacco brand sponsorship of regulated tobacco products in sports and entertainment events or other social or cultural events. During 1992–2013, sports-related marketing expenditures decreased significantly for both cigarettes (from $136 million in 1992 to zero dollars in 2013) and smokeless tobacco (from $34.8 million in 1992 to $2.1 million in 2013). The percentage of all marketing expenditures that were sports-related was higher for smokeless tobacco than cigarettes in each study year.

The seven years of the Obama Administration has been associated with an accelerated rate of decline in smoking rates, according to a paper published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. But, will future Administrations keep it going?

Since Obama took office in 2009, the U.S. age-adjusted prevalence of adult cigarette smoking has fallen markedly -- from 20.6% in 2009 to 15.3% today. That’s a decrease of about 0.78 percentage points per year, more than double the annual rates of decline during the George W. Bush (.36 percentage points per year) and Bill Clinton (.28 percentage points per year) administrations.

At the pace set during the Obama era, adult smoking in the US would end in about 20 years. But only if future administrations continue or exceed that pace, said paper author Dr. Michael Fiore, Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.

“We lose almost 500,000 Americans a year to smoking, about 20% of all deaths in our country,” Fiore said. “That huge loss of life is something future Administrations should not ignore – the recent progress we have made must continue.”

Fiore associated the striking decline in smoking during the Obama Administration to several purposeful initiatives, including:

Regulation of tobacco products (The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009). This law for the first time gave the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products including cigarettes. In 2016, the FDA asserted its authority to expand that regulation to include e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and hookah.

Mandating insurance coverage of evidence-based counseling and medication treatments for smoking without barriers (Affordable Care Act of 2010) and providing funding to help people quit (National Prevention Council as well as the Prevention and Public Health Fund).

“Through concerted actions, the current administration has helped smokers break their addiction,” Fiore said. Smokers in America have free access to assistance through the national tobacco quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW and online at SmokeFree.gov.

Encouragement helps, too. In March 2012, the CDC launched the first paid national tobacco education campaign—Tips From Former Smokers (Tips), which features compelling stories of former smokers living with smoking-related diseases and disabilities. CDC estimates that the Tips campaign has helped at least 400,000 Americans to quit smoking for good since 2012 and is projected to prevent at least 17,000 premature deaths.

The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has also:

Banned the manufacture and sale of fruit- or candy-flavored cigarettes.

Prohibited the use of misleading claims such as "low," "light," and "mild.”

Conducted more than 600,000 retailer inspections to ensure compliance with laws restricting sales of tobacco products to youth.

Even with this progress, more than 36 million Americans continue to smoke, putting millions of lives at risk. The question remains: Will the next Administration maintain that momentum?

###

Contact: Chris Hollenback, 608-417-9047 or ch3@medicine.wisc.edu

]]>Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:32:40 GMTUruguay Wins Landmark Victory Over Philip Morris!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303777
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303777In a public health victory of global import, an international arbitral tribunal this month rejected Philip Morris International’s legal challenge to Uruguay’s strong tobacco control measures. The World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ruled in favor of Uruguay after Philip Morris challenged the country’s graphic warning labeling and brand marketing requirements. The tribunal dismissed the tobacco company’s claims for compensation, ordered the company to reimburse Uruguay more than $7 million in legal fees and related costs, and affirmed the measures as Uruguay’s reasonable exercise of its sovereign right (and duty) to protect public health.
» learn more]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 01:11:04 GMTTruth Initiative Supports Tobacco 21 Implementation!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303776
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303776
» learn more]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 01:10:39 GMTFDA Deeming Rule Provisions Update and Resources!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303775
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303775FDA’s deeming rule provisions went into effect on August 8 and the Center for Tobacco Products released a guidance distinguishing the provisions that require immediate compliance from others that take effect later in the month. Several provisions take effect restricting the sale of newly-regulated tobacco products to youth and the marketing of tobacco products. These provisions, as well as additional compliance updates, are outlined on the FDA webpage. Final ruleA chart of the effective and compliance datesCBS News Article (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-bans-e-cigarette-sales-to-minors-starting-today/)

Webinar: FDA Deeming Rule: What Does it Mean for You? – Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Aug, 25, 12 – 1:15 p.m. EDT]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 01:08:07 GMTOctober 3-6, 2016: Rocky Mountain Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification Program!http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303774
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=303774Behavioral Health and Wellness Program at the University of Colorado. The program offers high quality tobacco treatment specialist program based on the latest evidence-based tobacco cessation research and treatment strategies.

]]>Tue, 16 Aug 2016 01:07:38 GMTE-Cigarettes Go Tobacco-Free with Synthetic Nicotine.http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=298629
http://www.naquitline.org/news/news.asp?id=298629Next Generation Labs is making synthetic nicotine targeted toward vaping liquid companies. This tobacco-free nicotine is 13 times more expensive than nicotine from tobacco plants and has a cleaner flavor than tobacco-derived nicotine, requiring fewer sweeteners. The company is assessing where it fits into FDA’s deeming rule given that their product is synthetic, though they received guidance from FDA that the products will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
» learn more ]]>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:20:27 GMT